The Jewish Hour: The Golden Age of a Toronto Yiddish Radio Show and Newspaper by Michael Mandel

The Jewish Hour

The Jewish Hour explores the author's journey to uncover his late father's Yiddish radio show, featured in the Toronto Yiddish newspaper Kanader Nayes (1936-1954). Translated for the first time, these articles reveal Toronto’s Jewish community life before, during, and after WWII, covering cultural events, political rallies, and daily issues.

The book highlights key figures like Max Mandel, a star of Yiddish radio; Dorothy Dworkin, newspaper publisher and Mount Sinai Hospital co-founder; and many local artists, politicians, and cantors. It also references notable visitors such as Molly Picon, Sholom Asch, Emma Goldman, Chaim Weizmann, and Golda Myerson (later Golda Meir).

This work enriches the history of Toronto’s Jewish community and includes an appendix with translated Yiddish song lyrics from the show, plus a link for free streaming and downloads.

Michael Mandel (1948-2013), a law professor at Osgoode Hall Law School and activist, completed this heartfelt book in his final weeks.